Convertible hitch device



June 2, 192s. 1,540,426

M. A. SAGEN CONVERTIBLE -HITCH DEVICE Filed April 27. 1923 Patented June 2, 1925. n A ,l y a 1 STATES maafrN1"A4 MABTIN'A. lSAGENQOF EDMORE,` ORTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR F. ONE-THIRD TO nanosJ or Ennemi/,inoltra naman.

:ooNvERTIBLE HITCH DEVICE.

Application filed April 27, 1923. serian No. 635,000.

170 ZZ whom .it may Concern:

' parts ,throughout thev dill'erent; vievvs,v and in :Be it known that I, MARTIN A. SAGEN,

which,

a citizen of the United: States, residing .fat lldmore, in Vthe county of, Ramsey vand State of .'North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful "Improvements in Convertible. Hitch Devices and I do hereby 'declare the follow-ing. to befafulh'clear, and exact description of the invention,l such yas Will enablepothers skilled in theart to `which it appertainsl-tomakerandfuse the same.

This invention relates toa draft device or ar tractorhitc-lror coupling adapted to conneet Ya tractor With 1 some other member which is drawn thereby. Suclrdevices'are now i commonly `used on tractors f-pulling plows; and other'tools. .It is desirablemt times to have ,a I posit-ive oonplingdevice and at other ltimes -to haVe-areleasable conn pling' Whichzwill unoouplewhen a certain stress is .placed thereon. -It'lis also Ldesirable to fhave a hitch Kwhich Will-automatically couple-Thy :merely .beingT .moved against the coupling` member `of the-device 'fyvvliiohfis drawn. A..movable member is provided in the hitch which moves Yto; permitthe4 release of the drawn v.member and said wmovable member .is held down or in positionfby l strongsprin'g pressure. `Gmaccourltcfvthfis strong .spring ,pressu-re :it .is. desirable to have a f `lighter spring` to gpermit movement of said member whenautomatio coupling` takes place.

It is anobjeotof this invention,- therefore, to `provide a conplingdevice Whichcanfbe converted into. .either .a r@positive or, a releasable .couplingaand o.ne..Which has `a' member movable in. one direction .when thecouplin'g releases and :which is imovablenin another direction to permit automatic; coupling` `of theV device. f u

`It* .fis -a `further object., ofthe-invention .to provide a Adraft ;device .havirlier such ,-a. `membermovable in twoidirections and which is reversible .so that in ...one position `it can move laterally.for-.automatic coupling and form apositive hitch .and `in. its other position it can movelaterally for :automatic coupling' also. toV forml a releasabile hitch.

.These and otherobjects and advantages of theoinvention `vvilllbe fully set forthlin the,followingdescription made i-nconnection WithA `the accom-1o,anyingry drawings f in 1which like reference. .characters refer f to fthe #same 'Fig. lis a view.` inside elevation `of the deviceya .different position of some parts being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 1.2 isa top planview thereof;

Rigs 3` A-isf ,a vertical section i taken von the line 33 of' Fig. 2,as indicated by the arrows; and A Figa 4 isa View in vertical .se`otion.taken on the V.linea-1l of VIlling. .1, as:;indioated bythe?.arrows.l

`Referring `to the dra-Wings, thedevioe comprisesa casing' which preferably .is made of vcast metal land comprises fside Wal-ls 1 and 2 --Which-- are.- suhstantially f parallel andl ai lhorizontal -or top avall 3l as Well. as. the bottomfwall l.Land end 4,Wall 5. The sidefvvalls are-.formedilat the front-end 4with compaia tively 'largef horizontaliand alined slots@ a6. Said -Walls are: also providedat their. bottom andx lfront en'dsiwithlateral bosses 7 boredtoy receive a :pivot pin ,8 forming thepivotzfor a said latch fis illustratedl ashavingfa ynotch or groovelS-therein adaptecMtof'contact With said-bolt. rThe:upperfportion `of the a1m 1l,- is providedvivith a surface 14E A.which isv substantially vertical V'when thexlatch is involosed'position. yWhen the latch is `pulled forwardly fvvith: `the x draft =device-r=in` use the sur-face .-ltuis adapted to `impinge against the inclined surfaeel 15 v formed 4on a downwardly projecting.fflipiI at the forward endzfof afloary 116.*:v'l`hisY :bar-Vis generallyoffflat rectangular form and seats -onrtheiipperzsideof the top Wall 3x-of. the "casing and has adjacentits rear end cylindrical projections 17y at each sidef thereof Which .alternately are adapted to-seat in a cylindrical'hole"forme'din the rearend .'-of the top"1vvall 3. Intermediate of 'itslends the bar 16 is provided with open-V ended pT-shaped slots 18 fat eachlsi'de rthereof which are curved 1 and concentric @with the centercofi the projections 17 and which are closed at one end and open atfthe other end.-thex=open. endsobeino 'at' opposite, edges of the bar. With the bar in place, one of the T-shaped slots 18 receives the head 19 of a bolt 20 which extends vertically through an aperture in the wall 3 and has a collar 21 thereon seating in a recess in the wall 3. The bolt is threaded at its lower end to receive an angular or square nut 22 and a strong compression coiled spring 23 surrounds the bolt and presses at one end against the nut 22 and at its other end against the square surface of the wall 3.

The bar 16 has a transversely extending` curved and inclined surface 24 at the forward end of the lipcarrying surface 15 and said bar also hasy a lip at its opposite side which has'a similar but oppositely disposed curved surface 25, the rear surface 26 of the latter lip being substantially vertical when the bar is in position. A lug 27 projects upwardly from the casing 1 and has a lip overhanging the top side of the bar 16 at the rear thereof and said bar is formed with a vertical slot 28 in its rear edge adapted to permit passage of the lug 27 when in alinement therewith. The side walls 1 and 2 of the casing are bored to receive a shouldered pin or lshort rod 29 having its smaller end bent substantially at a-rightiangle and extending upwardly along the outside of the wall 2 which is provided with aLl-shaped rib 30 in which said rod 29 seats. It will be noted that the upper end ofthe rod 29 is disposed adjacent therefor the'bar 16. A spring 31 has an arm encircling thepin 29 and seated against the shoulder thereof between the walls 1 and 2 and said spring extends downward and has a plurality of coils disposed about a stud 32 screwed into the rear wall 5 and the other arm 33 of the spring bears against the inside of the wall 2. The spring is held on the stud 32 by a washer 34 secured by a'split key`35 extending through said stud or by any other suitable means. It will be seen that the tension of the spring 31-33 tends to hold the upwardly extending arm of pin 29 against the side wall 2. The casing has horizontal flanges 36 projecting from the' rear thereof which are provided with apertures 37 Yadapted to receive the securing `bolt 41 attaching the draftdevice to the tractor, a portion of'which is shown as 42. Thecasing is also provided with a rearwardlyextending apertured lug 38 adapted to receive a chain for a purpose to be` later described. The wall 1 is also provided with a slotA 39 ext-ending therethrough and the outer side of said wall is provided with graduations designated. as shown, with numbers from. 1000 tol 3000 and the nut 22 on'its-sides provided with edge portions40-adapted to aline with the slot 39 and to co-operate with the graduations adjacent thereto. A

, In operation, the device will be attached to the tractor and this attachment, generally, will be permanent. The draft device can be readily detached when desired, however, by merely removing the bolt 41, and it will be noted that said bolts can be disposed in any of the holes 37, according to conditions. l/Vith the draft device so att-ached to the tractor. if it is desired to arrange the same to form a releasable hitch the bar 16 will be disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Assuming the device is in position with the latch 9 open, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the tractor lcan be backed against themember to be hitched thereto and the coupling member 43 of said member will then be guided into contact with the underside of the arm 10 of said latch. The latch will then be swung toward its closed position and the underside of the arm. 11 will contact with the surface 24. @wing to the inclined form of its surface the bar 16 will be cammed to swing to on-e side and will thus contact the upstanding `portion of the pin 29. This pin will be swung outwardly from the side wall 2 against the tension of the spring 31. As soon as bar 16 has swung to vone side suliiciently to permit the passage of the arm 11, said arm willl pass to the rear of thelip-carrying surfaces 24 and 15 and spring 31 will return the bar to its central position. wise swinging of the bar 16, the head 19 of the bolt 20 moves in the T-shaped slot 18; The draft device is now hitched in position for drawing the member 43. The spring 23 will be set at the tension desired by a 'previous adjustment of the bolt 20 and nut 22 and the stress at whichthe draft device will release to be indicated by the graduations on the wall 1. lAs illustrated in Fig. 1, the device is set to release at a pull approximately of 1500 pounds. VVhensuch stress occurs between the members 42 and 43, the surface 14 of the latcharm 11 will cam against the surface 15 ofthe bar 16 and saidbar will be lraised against the tension of spring 23 and the latchV 9 will swing forward and release the member 43. If the device is to be arranged to form a permanent hitch the bar 1.6 will be reversed. The upstanding end of the pin 29 .can be turned downwardly to substantially afright angle position. as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1 and the pin will then ride on the surface of the rib 30. The bar 16 can now be lifted from the casing and turned over. The other slot 18 will now receive the head 19 of bolt 20 and surfaces 25 and 26 will be in position' for engagement by the surface 14 of latch' arm 11. The device can be coupled, as above described, the inner surface of arm `11 contacting vsurface 25 and camming the bar to one side. The surface 14 will then be in position to contact the surface 26. As the latter Surface is During the sidelll substantially 4vertical ,and the surface ,14 is .also substantially vertical, v there can j be no cainac'tion tending to raise thebailti and the hitch `will then act as .-a positive hitch. lIfit gbedesire'dla-t anyy time to con-` vert the; hitch temporari-lyfrom the releasable hitch to a permant hitch,;'this can be doneby, placing a bolt throughfthelugslQ and-the' latch "then cannot release. The,` lug' 27 is provided to prevent the bar 16 jump ing-eut lof the position when the same is knocked to one side in the coupling operation. TVhen it is desired to reverse the bar the same is swung to bring the slot 2S into alinement with the lug 27 when the bar can be lifted.

The draft device will generally be used with an engine-driven tractor. However', it is now common to plow with a gang of plows with eight or more horses. When plowing with such a large team, if one of the plows strikes a large stone, stump, or other obstruction, the beam. of the plow is often bent or sprung or other damage caused before the team can be stopped. It is desirable at such times to use a releasable hitch with the plows and the device of the present invention can be'thus used. The lug 38 is provided and when the device is used with a horse-drawn plow or other tool, a chain about two feet long will be connected through the lug 38 and to the con* necting member 43 which is drawn by the draft device. When an obstruction is encountered the device will release. The team always can be stopped after a step or two and, in fact, become trained to stop so that by the time the slack-up in the chain is taken up they will be brought to a stop and no damage will be done to the plows.

From the above description itis seen that applicant has provided a simple and efficient draft device which can be easily automatically coupled and quickly converted from a releasable to a positive hitch. It has been found in practice that the strong spring 23 is too stiff to permit convenient automatic coupling, and for this reason the spring 31 was provided and such coupling affected by a lateral movement of the bar 16 rather than by a vertical movement thereof. The casing and other parts can conveniently be made as castings and the parts are adapted for rugged form and use.

It will, of course be understood, that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicaiits invention, which, ,generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and as set forth in the appended claims. A

That is claimed is:

l. A draft device comprising a casing, a latch pivoted at one end thereof, a member other linto positionsout of engagement with j ,said .latjch, and resilient means resisting .movement off-said latch'in both directions. lThe structure set; forth Iin claim l, said memberfbeing reversibleand having means at opposite'sides thereof'for alternate `engagement with said latch, onecf V.whichv is adapted to co-act withcsaid'latch as a releasing cam ine'ansand the other of which locks with said latch and prevents movement of said member in one direction.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, said members having means on opposite Sides thereof for alternate engagement with said latch to form laterally diagonal cam surfaces whereby movement of the latch will cause said member to move in a lateral direction.

4. A draft -device comprising a. casing, a latch pivoted at one end thereof, a reversible member at one side of said casing pivoted adjacent one end for lateral movement and also mounted for verticalmovement, means at opposite sides of said member at the other end thereof for alternately engaging said latch adapted to form either a reversible or a permanent hitch, a spring-pressed headed bolt in said casing and curved T- shaped slots at each side of said member adapted alternately to engage the head of said bolt and prevent movement of said member when disposed to form a releasable hitch.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, means at opposite sides of said member alternately adapted to be engaged by said latch to swing said member laterally, and a spring-pressed means resisting such lateral swinging movement.

6. A draft device comprising a casing having vertical substantially parallel Walls and a substantially horizontal wall, a U- shaped latch pivoted adjacent its bottom at one end of the casing, a headed bolt disposed in an aperture in said horizontal wall, a compression spring surrounding said bolt and engaging said horizontal wall, a nut adjustable on said bolt engaged by the; other end of said spring, a member pivoted adjacent the other end of said casing for lateral swinging movement disposed on said horizontal wall and having a curved open ended T-slot concentric with the pivot thereofin which the head of said bolt is disposed, spring pressed means resisting lateral swinging movement of said member, and cam means` atthe front of said member adapted to be engaged by said latch in swinging' to closing position for swinging said member laterally, said member having other cam means adapted to be engaged by said latch in moving toward open position whereby when suicient stress is placed on said latch said spring will beV compressed, said member' raised and the latch released.

7. rIhe structure set forth in claim 6, said spring-pressed means comprising a'rod eX- tending horizontally through the casing having an arm bent upwardly along side of said member, anda spring secured in said casing and connected to said pin to re- 10 sist movement thereof by said member.

8. A draft device having in combination, a casing, a forwardly and rearwardly having means at =opposite sides for engage-` ment by said latch to swing the member laterally andk also having means at opposite sides for engagement by said latch adapted to form, respectively, a releasable hitch or a positive hitch; e

In testimony whereof I aiiiX 'my signature.

MARTIN A. SAGEN.k 

